Stacking device



R. l. KUFFLER E T AL STACKING DEVICE July 29, E94?.

5 Sheets- Sheet l Filed May 3, 1944 J. @f W mw. @m

My 29, E94?. R. n. KUFFLER Err AL ZQM STACKING' DEVICE Filed May 3, 1944 5 Sheets--Sheerl 2 NVENTORS.

My 29, im?, R. l. MFFLER ET AL STQXNG DEVICE Filed Mw 3, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fram 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hlm m STAGKING DEVICE Filed May "5, 1944 L A R E L F F U K R my 29 3%? R. L KUFFLER ET AL Ep I STCKING v DEVICE Filed may 3. 1.941% 5 Shams-Sheet 5 Patented July 29, 1947 UNIT-Eo STATES PATENT' oi-'Flc p s'rAcxmG DEVICE Roland I. Kuflier, Detroit, and Samuel M. Renfrew, Hazel Park, Mich.

'Application May 3, 1944, Serial No. 533,990

secutively discharged are stacked one upon the other. The invention also contemplates the use of a vertically movable table onto which the successive lengths are stacked by the carriers, means for moving the table gradually down as the stack increases so that the height of the top of the latter remains substantially constant, and means for arresting the downward movement of the table when no lengths of stock are being delivered thereto.

A further object of the invention is to'provide a stacking device including a stacker having plurality of carriers thereon onto rollers on each of which a length, or parallel lengths, of the stock is deposited, and means for imparting rotation to the rollers on each carrier in turn when it reaches a predetermined position so that the lengths are successively discharged from the said carriers and stacked one upon the other.

Having thus briefly and broadly stated some of the objects and advantages of the invention I will now describe it in detail with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a side elevation of one form of my stacking device wherein quite short onveyor chains are utilized.

Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged side View of the feeder showing also al portion of the stacking conveyor.

Figure 4 is a view on the line 4--4 of Figure 3, and showing also a portion as a section on the line lia- 4a of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

. Figures 11, 12 and l13 are sections on the lines I I-I I, I2-I2 and I`3-I3 respectively of Figure 8.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section on the Figure 8 is another vertical section of the stacking conveyor showing a carrier with a length of stock partly discharged therefrom.

Figure 9 is a portion of a vertical section Afurther enlarged.

Figure 10 is a section on the line `ill-Ill of Figure 9, and

Figure 14 is a detail.

. Referring to the drawings, I designates a feeder which is inclined and terminates at its lower extremity over a stacker 2 and delivers lengths B of substantially at stock onto carriers 3 travelling on the stacking conveyor. From consecutive v carriers the lengths B are automatically dischargedand stacked one upon the other upon a skid or carriage 4 res-ting upon a vertically movable table 5.

Referring rst to the feederzl shown in greater v detail in Figures 3 to 5, rotatably mountedon opposite sides of the frame B are the extremities of an opposed pair of idler rolls 'I between which substantially flat stock A passes. Spaced in front of the idler rolls l are the following pairs of rolls between each of which the stock travels :V a cutting roll'9 and an anvil roll I2; a tension roll 22 and an idler roll 23; and a second tension roll 24 and another idler roll 25. The cutting roll 9 is mounted in bearings and has a helical blade I0 projecting from its circumference throughout the major portion of its length. Provided also on the cutting roll 9 adjacent its extremities are collars II. The extremities of the anvil roll I2 are supported in bearings I3 mounted in the frame 6 for sliding movement in a path parallel to an imaginary line extending through the axes of the cutting and anvil rolls'. Spaced beneath the bearings I3 are blocks I4, and between the latter and the said bearings are helical springs I5 which urge the bearings I3 and the anvil roll I2 toward the cutting roll 9. Extending upwardly from both sides of the block I4 are rods I6 which are threaded at their upper extremities to receive internally threaded spur gears I'I the undersides of which rest on bearings Ila supported on the frame 6. Extending through the latter centrally between and parallel with each pair of rods I`6 is a spindle I 8 held against axial movement. These spindles I 8 terminate at their lower extremities in plates I 9 which bear upon the upper sides of the cut-ting roll bearings 8. Freely rotatable on each spindle I8 is a gear 20 which meshes with the two spur gears I'I between which it is positioned. Rotatable on each spindle I8 and connected to the gear 2lil thereon is a suitable/- handwheel 2|. Obviously when the gears 20 are turned the blocks I4 are raised or lowered thereby increasing/6r decreasing the upward pressure of the springs I5 against the undersides of the bearings I3.

Means are provided for turning the cutting roll 9 and the anvil roll I2 so that the cutting edge of the blade I travels at the same rotary speed as the periphery of the anvil roll. The tension rolls 22 and 24 are also positively driven but at a slightly greater peripheral speed than the anvil roll I2 to pull the lengths B being severed from the stock A away from the blade at the point of severance and thereby facilitate the cutting operation. In order to correlate the speed oi the feeder I with that of the carriers 3 on the stacker 2 movement may alsobe imparted to the carriers opposite a sprocket 32 on one extremity of the anvil roll I2. which imparts rotation to the said sprocket 32 through a chain 33. A sprocket 34 is fixed on .the drive shaft 26 in alignment with an idler sprocket 35 suitably mounted forjrotation on the frame 6, with'a sprocket 36 fixed on across shaft 31l extending transversely of the feeder I, with a sprocket36 mounted for free rotation on one extremity of the first tension roll z 22, and with a sprocket 39 fixed on one extremity of the cutting roll 9. Extending over these sprockets 34, 35, 36, 39 and 33 is a drive chain 49 by which the cross shaft 31 and the cutting roll 9 are rotated. Extending around other sprockets 4I fixed on'the cross shaft 31 are chains 42 which pass around sprockets 43 on the stacker 2, and nxed on the first tension roll 22 are sprockets 44 and 45. Passing around the sprocket 44 and also around a sprocket 46 iixed on the cutting roll 3 is a chain 41 for imparting rotation to the first tension roll 22, and passing around the sprocket 45 is a chain 48 which also extends around a sprocket 49 on the second tension 'roll 24 and turns the latter. 'n

From the foregoing it will be seen that jby utilizing chain and sprocket drives for the cutting roll 9 and the anvil roll I2 that their rotation is in n0 wise interfered with by slight variations in the spacing of their centers caused by the action of the helical springs I5. The collars II on the cutting rolls 9 retain Athe anvil' I2 at substantially the same spacing from the cutting roll when no portion of the helical blade III extends toward the anvil roll.

Thus stock A passing between the idler rolls 'I is cut into uniform lengths B during its pasand the tension rolls 22 and 24 pull the lengths B away from the blade as they are being severed from the stock A. Lower guide rolls 99 may also be provided at the front of the feeder I to support the lengths B just prior to their discharge onto the carriers 3.

On the stacker 2 are two parallel horizontally spaced upper angle guideways 56 and two lower angle guideways 5I extending in vertical alignment beneath them, and the horizontal flanges of all the guideways 59 and 5I are inwardly directed. Each vertically aligned pair of guideways 50 and 5I is supported by suitable members 62; one pair of these members carry aligned spindies 99 for rotation on which the sprockets 43 and head sprockets 91 are secured, and another pair of the said members support tail sprockets 53 for rotation. A conveyor chain 54 passes around 4 each pair of head and tail sprockets 91 and 53. Depending from the bottom angle guideways 5I for a short distance from their extremities adjacent the head sprockets 91 are plates 55, and projecting laterally inward from the lower margins of these plates are other guideways 56 which are vertically apertured at 51 and terminate outwardly beyond the guideways 5I in downwardly fiexed extremities. Supported for rotation by brackets 58 secured to the undersides of the guideways. 56 and projecting upwardly through the apertures 51 are supporting rollers 59. Secured to the inner face of one of the plates 55 above the guideway 56 is a locating guide 60 the inner face. of which is horizontally slotted'at 6I throughout its length. This slot 6I is relatively narrow and has parallel sides at its inner extrem.

ity and at its outer extremity the sides of the slot are outwardly flared from one another. Secured also to the inner face of the same plate 55 above the locating 'guide 60 is a block 62 the underside of which has a longitudinal groove 63 formed therein to receive a rack 64 the teeth of.which extend downwardly. A horizontal pin 65 extends through the block 62 and through the rack 64 adjacent its inner extremity to pivotally support the *said rack, and formed in the base of the groove 63 is an aperture to receive one extremity of a helical spring 66 which bears against the top of the rack 64 adjacent its outer extremity and tends to force the said rack down into a horizontal position with its stop 61 in contact with the lower extremity of a vertical slot 61a formed in a plate 62a mounted m the outer face of the block 62.

Supported at uniform intervals by and between the two conveyor chains 54 are a plurality of baskets or carriers 3 having spaced vertical sides 68 portions of which are of increased height tc receive supporting members 63, each of which projects inwardly from the conveyor chain 54 adjacent to that vertical side. Axles 10 which rotate with'- and project from opposite extremities of rollers 1 I are mounted in the opposite vertical sides .68 of the carriers 3 and project outwardly beyond o'ne of the said vertical sides. These rollers 1I arearranged in spaced parallel relation to one another. Fixed on one extremity of eachaxle 10 is a sprocket 12 or 12a. It will he noted that all the' axles 19 except the left hand one (Figures 6 and 8) have their axes in horizontal alignment and that the center of that axle is lower. The sprockets 12 are all of uniform diameter and the sprocket 12a on the lower left hand axle 10 is larger so that its upper teeth are in substantially horizontal alignment with the upper teeth o'f the other sprockets 12. Extending around the larger sprocket 12a and the sprocket 12 farthest therefrom and in engagement with the .upper teeth of the intermediate sprockets 12 is an endless chain 13 the underside of which, due to the increased diameter of the sprocket 12a, does not engage at least some of the said intermediate sprockets. Fixed also on the axle 10 on which the larger sprocket 12a is secured is a pinion 14 positioned to engage the rack 64 and to be rotated thereby as each carrier passes the said rack.

is a pin 15 which is adapted to be engaged by the locating guide slot 6I whereby the pinion is turned into such position as to properly engage the teeth of the rack 63. The purpose of the pivotal mounting of the rack 63 and of the spring 86 y is to permit upward movement of the outer extremity of the rack by the teeth of the pinion 14 in the event that the latter has not been correctly turned to properly mesh with the rack teeth and functions as a safety device to prevent damage to the rack or pinion as they come into contact. The vertical sides 68 have integral inturned flanges 68a at their lower extremities which are adapted to ride on the supporting rollers 58 as each carrier 3 passes beneath the rack 88 when that carrier is passing its discharge or unloading station. from the vertical sides 88. are also guide rails 16 which lare spaced just over the upper side of the chains 13.

In Figure 1 thestacker is shown as being quite short whereas in Figures 6 and 7 it is materially longer. Obviously the length of the stacker may be varied to suit the conditions under which the device is to operate, and in any event the arrangement of the carriers 3 thereon and the means for discharging lengths B of stock therefrom is identical. Each length B is delivered from the feeder I onto one of the carriers 3 on the stacker 2 with its front extremity overhanging the leading roller 1I. As the chains 54 travel and bring the carrier 3 toward the position shown at D in Figures 6 and 7 the outwardly projecting extremities of the rails 56 which are downwardly inclined toward their outer extremities prevent excessive tilting of the carrier about its supporting members 69, and as the movement of4 the carrier continues the supporting rollers 59 constitute rotary supports over which the undersides of the inturned flanges 68a travel. The pin 15 is engaged by the locating guide slot 6| and the pinion 'IB is turned to mesh with the rack 64. The

`movement of the carrier causes rotation of the pinion 1li and the roller 1I on which it is mount' ed as the said pinion travels along the rack 64. Rotation is thereby imparted to the larger sprocket 12a and to all the other sprockets 12 onthe car rier through the chain 13. Thus all the rollers 1I are turned simultaneously to discharge the length of stock B thereon from one end of the carrier as indicated in Figure 8. Obviously the length of stock B on each consecutive carrier is unloaded at the same location and consequently they are stacked one upon the other upon the skid on the table 5. f

Referring now to Figure 1, the table 5 is supported upon the upper extremity of a rod ,11 which extends downwardly into a cylinder 18 and has a piston 19 on its lower extremity. The upper extremity of the cylinder 18 is open to the atmosphere through a vent 88, and connected to the bottom of the cylinder is a pipe 8l through which uid under pressure may ilow into the cylinder to raise the table 5 when an empty skid is placed thereon, and through which the fluid may be gradually discharged. For duringvoperation of the device the speed of downward travel of the table 5 should be the same as the speed at which the height of the stack C is'being increased to maintain the top level of the stack substantially constant. To this end means are provided for preventing further discharge of the fluid and thereby holding the piston 19 stationary when no stock is being fed to the stack C though the feeders I and the stacker 2 continue to operate.

In the present instance this is accomplished in the following manner: From a suitable reservoir 82 a suction pipe 83 extends to a pump Extending laterally inward v 6 84 to the discharge side of which the pipe 8Il is connected. This pump is set in motion in any suitable manner each time a fresh skid 4 is placed upon the table 5 to raise it to its top position. Connected to the pump 8l by a T-tting 85 is a return line 88 which extends to the reservoir 82,

and provided in this return line is a needle valve 81 and a conventional solenoid operated valve 88 which is normally open during the operation of the conveyors I and 2 but may be closed by a conventional phototube unit 89 by energizing a phototube 90 connected thereto by leads 8l in the usual manner. 92 denotes a light source by which the phototube 90 is energized. The phototube is arranged adjacent one side of the path followed by the stock A prior to its reaching the cutting roll 9, and the light source is positioned on the other side of the said path 'so that as long as the stock is passing through the feeder I the phototube'is not energized and the valve- 88 remains open. However as soon as no stock A is travelling toward the cutting and anvil rolls 9 and I2, and the passage of light from the ,source to the phototube is no longer intercepted the phototube is energized and the valve 88 is closed through electrical operation of the unit 89 and the solenoid. The setting of the needlev valve 81 should be such that the flow from the cylinder 18 back to the reservoir allows the piston 18 and therefore the table 5to travel downward at the same speed at which the height of the stack C is being increased.

In Figure 6 a modification is shown in so far as the location of the phototube and light source are concerned. In this instance both the light-` source 92 and the phototube 9|) are mounted on the stacker 2 intermediately of the height of the latter and are spaced horizontally from one an'- other. As long as lengths B are being transported on the carriers 3 the downwardly hanging extremities of these lengths obscure light from the source and prevent it striking theyphototube, but as soon as the carriers 4between them are empty light from the source 92 strikes the phototube 88 and energizes it. In this connection it will be noted that due to the helical form of the blade I0 the ends of the lengths B are diagonal so that one side of each length B hangs sufficiently far beneath the rollers 1I to insure proper masking of the phototube so long as'the latter is placed on that side of the stacker.

While in the foregoing the lengths of material B transported to stacking position by the carriers 3 are shown as single pieces on each carrier, it is of course obvious that instead of one single wide length a number of narrower ones may be dea plurality of carriers -each pivotally supported by and between both the chains whereby the carriers remain horizontal throughout the movement of the chains, said carriers each being adapted to receive a length of stock thereon when being transported by and between the upperi strands of the chains, and means for discharging the stock from the carriers as each carrier'is being transported by and between` the lower strands of the chains.

2. A stacking device comprising a conveyor including two spaced parallel endless chains each passing around a head and a tail sprocket, the axes of all the sprockets being horizontal, means for turning the head sprockets, a plurality of carriers each pivotally supported by and between both chains whereby said carriers remain horizontal throughout the travel of the chains, means for delivering a length of stock ontoA each carrier as' it is being transported by and between `the upper strands of the chains, a skid beneath the lower strands of the chainaand means for discharging the stock form each carrier in turn onto the skid as each carrier is being transported by and between the lower strands of the chains.

3. A stacking device comprising a conveyor including two spaced parallel endless chains each passing around ahead sprocket and a tail sprocket, the axes of all the sprockets being horizontal, means for turning the head sprockets, a plurality of carriers each pivotally supported by and between both the chains whereby the carriers tend to remain horizontal throughout the movement of said chains, means for graduf ally depositing a length of stock onto each carrier starting at the leading end of the latter as said carrier is being transported in one'direction by and-between the upper strands of the chains, means for retaining the carriers horizontal as they are transported in the opposite direction by and between the lower strands of the chains, and coacting means on the conveyor and on each oarrier for discharging the stock therefrom commencing from the end of the stock first depositedv as the latter is being transported by and between f per strands of the chains, means including a rack fixed on the conveyor and a coacting pinion on .each carrier for turning the rollers thereon as each carrier is transported by and between the lower strands of the chain to unload the stock on said rollers, and cooperating means on said conveyor and on each carrier for maintaining each pinion in engagement with the rack as the carriers pass the latter.

5. 'A stacking device comprising a conveyor including two spaced parallel endless chains each passing around a. head sprocket and a tail sprocket, the axes of all the sprockets being horizontal, means for turning the head sprockets, a plurality of carriers each pivotally supported by and between both chains whereby they remain substantially horizontal throughout the movement ofthe chains, parallel rollers transversely arranged on each carrier, means for depositing a length of stock onto the rollers of each carrier the u pper strands of the chains, askid beneath the lower strands of the chains, a pinion on one roller of each carrier, means for turning the other Arollers thereon when the one roller is turned, a rack fixed on the conveyor to engage and rotate the pinion on each carrier as the latter is transported past said skid by and between the lower strands of the chains to discharge the length of stock from upon said rollers onto the skid, and coacting means on the conveyor and on each carrier for holding each pinion in engagement with the rack during its passage past the latter.

ROLAND I. KUFFLER..

SAMUEL M. RENFREW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

